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The Greatest Idea
Kabir Helminskii
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In the whole history
of human ideas, the idea of the Divine is the greatest
idea ever conceived.
Even if it could be proved that no God exists, then
the mere concept of a Being who is ultimate love,
guidance, mercy, generosity, beauty, and consciousness
would stand as the most remarkable achievement of
the human soul. To conceive of such a Divinity and
then to yearn and strive to be more like that Divinity
in unconditional love, in forgiveness, in generosity,
in mercy, has uplifted human beings. In particular,
the mystics, the real lovers of God, have translated
this yearning into a practical methodology, way
of life, and even a culture of love. But some might
say religions have fought wars over their ideas
of the Divine. Yes, it may be true that humans have
coerced, oppressed, and slaughtered in the name
of God, but this is
just the reflection of human egoism projected upon
a concept of the Divine. Human beings have a remarkable
capacity to turn their imaginary God into a deity
as vindictive, cruel, narrow-minded, and oppressive
as themselves. But this is not what we are talking
about at all.
What is infinitely more important is the reflection
of the Idea of the Divine upon the human soul. This
Holy Idea has enabled human beings to try to forgive
the harms done to them, to act with selfless generosity,
to bear hardship with patience, and to aspire to
unconditional love.
If this were merely a concept of a creature that
had evolved out of the slime of existence, it would
be astounding enough. If such a being could actually
be convinced of the Reality of its concept and become
radiant with those very qualities, wouldn’t
this be a most remarkable achievement?
Let us take this a step further. Imagine that there
is such a Divine Being and that even our highest
idea of this “God” is merely a dim reflection
of its true Nature. What if our childhood concept
of the Divine as an All Loving, All-Knowing, and
All-Compassionate God, what if that and much, much
more were true. What if all human beings are being
invited to recognize this
Truth and trust it, live it, and be transformed
by it?
This week we are calling to mind the life and teaching
of Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi, who with his creative
genius expanded our idea of the Divine. Through
the great treasure of his wisdom and teaching the
Beauty, the Majesty, the Intimacy of the Divine
has been made more real for us. This was his passion.
Let me give just one example. In Fihi ma Fihi, Mevlana’s
Discourses, we are brought into a conversation that
took place one night in Konya almost 800 years ago:
Jesus laughed a lot. John the Baptist wept a lot.
John said to Jesus, “You have become very
secure from God’s subtle trials to laugh so
much.”
“You,” replied Jesus, “are very
heedless of God’s subtle and mysterious blessing
and grace to weep so much!”
One of God’s saints, who was present at this
exchange, asked God which of the two was the more
exalted in understanding. God answered, “The
one who thinks better of me,” that is, “Whatever
my servant conceives of me, I am in that conception.
I have a form and image for each of My servants.
Whatever each of them imagines Me to be, that I
am. I am bound to all images where the Divine is
conceived; I am aloof from any reality where God
is not. O my servants, cleanse your thoughts, for
they are my dwelling places. Now observe yourself
and see what is more beneficial to you—weeping,
laughter, fasting, prayer, or retreat. Adopt whichever
of these suits you best and causes you to grow in
realization.”
What liberality, what openness he expressed. How
subtly he taught. He offered us a criterion for
discernment: Our spiritual realization corresponds
to the quality of our idea of the Divine. Be faithful
to the teachings and the practices that are in harmony
with this great idea of
the Divine. Harmonize yourself with the highest
truth you know. But also allow your idea of the
Divine to expand, to deepen, to become more beautiful.
A human being takes on the hue of the Divine by
keeping the Divine in mind. That is why we bow in
prayer; that is why we move our tongues in remembrance;
that is why we look for the Face of God everywhere.
The fragrance of that Mercy permeates existence.
That Presence is not absent for a moment. There
is only friendship and union. And if someone claims
that even difficulties and evils also come form
that Source, is that a problem? Is there something
wrong with that? Even
evils display Perfection. How? Imagine a Painter
of genius. Someone who could render both the beauty
of the Prophet Joseph and the ugliness of demons.
Is that ugliness evidence of the painter’s
ugliness or of his genius? It is evidence of the
perfection of his skill. And so this Painter renders
both those in selfless sincerity and those in selfish
denial. But both infidelity and faith bow down before
this artistry. But the faithful bow down willingly,
seeking the pleasure of the Soul of souls. While
those in denial also serve the Divine purpose, acting
as an example of the consequences of transgressing
the Divine Harmony, putting the faithful to the
test, and ultimately strengthening their souls.
For Mevlana the Divine was everything; It intoxicated
him, transformed him, beautified his
character. He believed that the Divine Mercy overwhelmed
everything else. This was the Idea of the Divine
contained on every page he ever wrote. There is
no end to this story and no words to adequately
describe it. It is something that grows and grows.
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